Letter, unsigned [F. L. Olmsted] to My Dear Sir [James Abbott]Authors:Olmsted, Frederick LawDate: October 7, 1855Frederick Law Olmstead, a New York free state fundraiser and landscape architect, wrote to James Abbott. Olmstead reported to him that he had ordered "the instrument" [howitzer cannon], which would be ready to ship in three days time along with its ammunition accessories, excepting powder. He would send instructions for its use separately, so that it may be used to "best effect", which he approximated as "equally effective with a simultaneous fire of 100 muskets" and "worth a dozen field pieces."

Keywords:Border ruffians; First Brigade of Kansas Volunteers; Free state militia; Grover, Joel; Lane, James Henry, 1814-1866; Lawrence, Kansas Territory; Militia; Wakarusa War, November-December 1855List of CompaniesAuthors: No authors specified.Date: November-December, 1855This document listed general information about militia recruited by free state leaders during the Wakarusa War, November-December, 1855. These troops gathered to defend Lawrence against an estimated 2000 Missourians. Details on the number of commissioned officers, non-commissioned officers and rank and file are provided for Companies A through I, Horse Company No. 1, and the headquarters company. The documents also listed the weapons available ("Sharpe's Rifles," "Other Arms," and "Cartridges"). All of the officers were listed. A total of 349 men with 156 Sharpe's Rifles and 169 other weapons and 6807 cartridges were recruited. James H. Lane served as the brigadier general and William Y. Roberts was the adjutant general. Colonels were Lyman Allen, M. A. Hunt, and C, K. Holliday. Majors were Jno. A. Wakefield, David Dodge, J. M Mitchell, Geo. W. Smith, Sr., Milton C. Dickey and men with the last names of Thomas, Tuton, Sampson, and Yates.. George W. Smith, Jr. was the Sergeant Major, A. H. Malory, Quartermaster; Jno. G. Crocker, Quartermaster Sergeant; Mr. Hunt, Commisary; and Dr. S. B. Prentiss and Dr. Foles, surgeons.

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